SBOE members say they need staff before more seats

Some members of the State Board of Education don’t favor increasing the number of districts beyond the current 15, but told Texas legislators Tuesday it would be good if they got help answering phone calls, sending out newsletters and generally responding to constituents.

The Texas House Redistricting Committee took testimony because of concerns that population growth will make it hard for the 15 members to represent their districts. They currently represent about 1.6 million people each without any staff. That number could increase to 2 million per member after the 2020 Census.

Texans are able to find board members, she noted, referring to some 12,000 emails from folks offering opinions on new science curriculum standards and another 15,000 emails regarding history curriculum standards.

“Keep the board at 15 members. I think it works very well,” she said.

House Redistricting Chairman Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton, remains concerned that future redistricting sessions will make it hard to carve up the vast state into 15 State Board of Education seats.

“What do you do as the state grows phenomenally? It just concerns me,” Solomons said as some members must represent a hundred or more school districts and have no staff. “Our concern is the size and number of people and how (members) communicate with their constituents.”

SBOE member Bob Craig, R-Lubbock, represents more than 200 school districts spread out over 75 counties. Carlos Garza, R-El Paso, has to travel more than 700 miles from one end of his district to the other.

“I don’t know how this is manageable. Constituents don’t know who you are,” House Redistricting member Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston, said.

No one disputed a need for State Board of Education members to get some staff help. George Clayton, R-Dallas, noted that he has to use his own computer and printer and ink to respond to constituents.

It will be easier for the Legislature to appropriate money for the 15 State Board of Education members to hire help than increasing the number of board seats.

Solomon emphasized he simply wanted “to start the discussion” for future lawmakers to continue as the state’s population keeps growing.